greatest man i ever met...

i recently went to the store in hopes of scoring a few father’s day cards; two for the hubs (one from me, one from monkey) & one for my pops. i must’ve read every single card! who else spends an insane amount of time on cards like i do? can i get a what what?!

i found the 2 easily enough for hubby; a cute one & a sweet one, but for my own dear ole dad, that was a different story. nothing fit us. how do i thank an incredible man for teaching me virtually everything with a card that is either too childish, too mushy gushy, or just plain cheesy! & not that i don’t appreciate a funny card, i swear i do, but this year was different for me. extra sentimental, perhaps; maybe my “lady” emotions were getting the better of me. who knows? but whatever it was/is, i decided i’d develop my own card, if you will…my personal tribute. (suck on that, hallmark!)  

pop was born in 1939…a scorpio. (hey, just like me!) he grew up in a totally different time from today & has watched as things have changed, evolved, & then swung back around again. my grandfather served in WWII where he met up with patton’s army. he returned safely home to his wife, estelle (my middle name) & raised two children. (whew…thank goodness)

a childhood of classic southern americana included drive-ins, sock hops, malt shops…buzz cuts, letterman's jackets, bobby socks & oxfords…boys who walked young ladies home, opened their doors, & blushed at the thought of a kiss...family vacations, a mother at home, and a hardworking, but ever present dad...the simple small town life. pop also knew early on that music was in his blood. he played several different instruments & took his band the LTD’S on the road in the summertime to play at the bowery in myrtle beach on the weekends.

after high school, dad joined the navy (1960) which led him into battle & flight. his naval career included both ‘the bay of pigs’ (1961) & hurricane hunting. he speaks fondly of his times in puerto rico where he met, then young up & comer, dee dee sharp! he is such a wonderful story teller; so descriptive that you can almost visualize everything as he spins the tales.

when he came back home to mullins, sc, he found himself back in the music game & taught band in washington, dc for several years.

but, the south always brings people back home…he met my mother in 1972 at 'south of the border.' there, he asked her & her baby daughter (my big sissy) out on a date. they married months later. my mom swears it was because she had a color tv set & he only had a small black & white. whatever works…they’re still together!

then in 1976, a miracle was born…ME! (totally kidding, making sure you were still paying attention!)

anyways, there are million & one things that could describe my pop, but i’ll break it down into the things that i most remember & admire about him. most attributes inherited or adopted over the years...we are almost like the same person at times!

·         doting & proud pop. never laid guilt trips. always showed interest in our hobbies; dance recitals, sports, etc.

·         made me appreciate sports & be a team player.

·         music, music, music. taught me big band, jazz…’blood, sweat, & tears’

·         beer in a can & pipe tobacco. peanut butter & sweet iced tea.

·         hawaii 5-O…”book him, dano!”

·         G.Gordon Liddy

·         washington redskins fan. the reason i love football!

·         lover of books & old things. (sound familiar?)

·         never cussed. if he ever said “damn,” (once in a blue moon) you better sit up straight & zip the lip.

·         loves train sets, models, & cake decorating. civil war reinactments.

·         held his own under domination of 3 girls…& still does.

·         workaholic by default. never complained. sensational work ethic.

·         always saved me from trouble. (spit balls in elementary school, smoking in the bathroom in middle school, etc) he never fussed & he never told my mom!

·         doesn’t discuss issues he’s not precise or knowledgeable in. doesn’t harp on religion or politics. he knows where his heart stands & that’s good enough for him.

·         borrowed his clothes as opposed to the girls living in the household. still wear an old keystone cops tee that i stole, i mean borrowed, years ago. it’s my all time fave.

·         sci/fi channel.

·         witty sense of humor. able to turn crappy situations into comfortable ones.

·         always there physically & emotionally. & as irreverent & sassy as i am at times, still loves me…thanks, pop!